Features:

SOS – Stay Safe is an automated app for helping in emergency situations. Once installed, it asks to create a security PIN code password to access it and contacts for your list. These can be either numbers from your phone book or email address(es). These contacts will receive a first-time message that they are on the emergency list. The app will allow you to set a shake pattern, then ask you to duplicate it so you know how you must shake to activate. This is great for reducing false positives in everyday use. If in a real emergency you don’t have to worry about unlocking your phone or dialing numbers, just shake it and your contacts will be automatically alerted. Alternately it can be manually activated by tapping the “Alert” button. They will be sent frequent messages with your approximate location, battery level and an audio clip of the situation, however, in the new update I have not been able to get this feature to work. This concept is great for children, women and seniors. Unfortunately the app’s functionality does not go without a few kinks…

Although I love the concept, I have yet to see an app get this completely right. I understand this safety app is designed to be easy to use when needed, however, at setup it could have a feature to customize or at least see/pick from canned alerts sent to emergency contacts. Though not a necessity, it would be a nice feature to have a message history so you know what messages you have been beaming out. Since you cannot tell what a contact will be sent, below I’ve listed the messages:

You are now an emergency contact in my SOS Stay Safe! Android app. You will get messages if I am in trouble. Get your copy now: www.sosstaysafe.com/sms

Sorry, that was a false SOS alarm. I am not in any trouble. Please ignore the previous SOS messages you received from me.

In my testing I noticed that GPS locations in the messages sent are not quite as accurate as they can be (GPS and WiFi were even turned on)… but at least they were within vicinity. Prior to the update I would be able to save recorded audio, now it seems not to function as I cannot find the audio files on my device nor were the messages being sent. Lastly, the app can lead to “crying wolf” scenarios if repeated false-positives go off. SOS has buckets of potential, perhaps with some refinement it can be that personal safety app that get it right!

SOS – Stay Safe

SOS – Stay Safe. Stop Alerts

SOS – Stay Safe. Confirm PIN

SOS – Stay Safe. Set Shake

SOS – Stay Safe. Set Emergency Contact

SOS – Stay Safe. Emergency Contact List

SOS – Stay Safe. Notification Settings

Usefulness:

In this day and age, sadly, an app like this is vital. It has the potential to passively and actively alert your loved ones in case of emergency.

Ease of Use:

The app is very easy to use, setup is a matter of picking contacts (and maybe a chat of the phone when they call you to confirm this text/email they received on your behalf adding them as a contact), then shaking to activate.

Frequently Used:

Hopefully you never have to use the app. It’s designed to set and forget- until absolutely needed.

AndroidTapp.com Rating

(4.1 out of 5)

Should you Download SOS – Stay Safe!? Despite a few issues with functionality. I think an app like this is vital for children with smartphones, women and even seniors.